Fabric puffer



H. L. WATKINS ET AL July 17, 1928.

FABRIC PUFFER Filed F Jan f y.

H. L. WATKINS ET AL FABRIC PUFFER July 17, 192s. 1,677,573

Filed Jian. 8, 19;? 2 sheets-sheen 2 I 0 f7 jrg 11 v l! #fl Patented July 17, 192s.

UNirED STATES PATENTFOFFICE.

Y. HAROLD L. wATxrNs AND LA VERE J. EVELAND, or' Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.l

FABRIC 'PUFFER Appiicatipn ined January s, 1927. semaine. 159,892;

' This invention relates to a fabric puer, and an object is to provide a renovating apparatus that is adapted to puff the nap vof garments and the vlike into its natural position toI cause the material to'appear to ber ,V ter yit is cleaned.

Another object of the invention is to pro-r vide a fabric putter on which' fur trimmed garments can be renovated without injury to the fur. Asv is well known steam is injurious to fur trimming; consequently this apparatus is constructed so that a garment can be renovated without steam contacting with the fur trimming. Heretofore such trimmings have been removed from the gar# ments before they arey renovated; but by means `of our apparatus the furtrimmings need not be removed while the garments are steaml cleaned, thereby y saving a large amountof time and cost. v

Another, object of the inventionv is to provide means for concentrating the steam on the seams` hems and folds of cloth, so that they can be renovated or cleaned independ-y entlyo-f the body of the goods.

A feature of invention is shown in the larrangementof the pipes of the heating coil that are inclinedl downwardly from their inlet to their outlet ends so that waterfrom condensation Awill. flow out of the coil by gravity.y l

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the-accompanying drawings, the subjoined detailed -description and the' appended claims.

. The accompanying-drawings illustrate the invention'. j f A j Figure 1 is aside view of a fabric puer that is .constructed in accorda-nce withthis invention; 'showing its steam shell in vertical section, some of thev parts of which are semi-diagrammatically indicated.

Fig. 2 isan enlarged cross section on line vawe einig. 1.` I l Y enlarged fragmental cross Fig. 3 is an section on line 3 3 of Fig. l; showing the means for securing the steam pipes to a support so as to hold the steam shell in position to have sleevesI of garments placed thereon. v l f Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vsection on staggered line 4--4 of Fig. 1, showing the steam shell 'in section and a plan view 'of the support.

Fig. 5` is a longitudinal section on line 5--5of Fig. 6, showing the steam shell provided with a baffle member.

Fig.`6 is an enlarged cross section on line f-6 offFig. 5, showing thek baffle member 1n normal position. f

j Fig. 7 is a cross section analogous to Fig.V 6 showing the battle member moved into position to close all' the yperforations in the steam shell except those exposed through the elongated slot in the vbaille member.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmental section on line 8 8 of Fig. 4, showing a detailof the means 'for exten-ding the steam pipes 'through and securing them in an' end plate of the steam shell.

Fig. 9 is a fragmental` semi-diagrammatic side view of the heater coil pipes showing their inclination relative to the horizontal line `a'-a.

Fig.v10 is a fragmental cross section' on line 10-10 of Fig. 5v showing a pointer attached to the handle ofthe baiiler member,

used toindicate lthe positiony of the elon-V gated slot therein. y v

Fig. `11 is a side view of a fabric pufer adapted to renovate large material such as liliesses,r skirts, coats, sheets of cloth and the 1 e. 1 Fig. 12 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 11 with the perforated top half of the shell removed to Show `the ar-v rangement of the steam pipes. p

Fig. 13 is an enlarged cross section on line'13-l3 of Fig. 11 showing the contour of the shell,-the arrangementof the steam pipes and means forsecurin'g thevhalves of the shell together.k Y

lFig. 14 is'a vertical section through the steam shellvillustrating how fur trimmed garments are arranged to protect the fur while the cloth is being renovated.

Fig. 15 yis an .enlarged fragmental cross section throughA the perforated portion of the shell showing a canvas covering over the wire screen. V

The fabric puifer comprises a support 15 that can be secured by screws 17 to a floor or table not shown. The upper end of the support is provided with channels 18, 19 for steam pipes 20, 21 that are secured therein by Ll-bolts 22, see Figs. 1, 3, 4,111 and 12.

The pipes 20, 21 are threaded through an lend plate 23 that is bolted to an outwardly extending annular flange on the base of the steam shell 24, and these pipes are secured to the end plate 23 by the opiiosing nuts 2.5, 26 that are also arranged to jam packing rings 27 ,against the plate and around the pipes to prevent leakage. rllhe shell 24 is conical having its base end flanged outwardly and the flange secured by bolts to the plate 23;

and the shell is tapered considerably so that the sleeves of garments can easily beslipped onand off the shell.

The pipes 20, 2l thus secured to the plate I 23 and support 16 hold the steam shell 24 in 11 to 14 additional pipes 2O and 21 are added thereto and joined by pipe connections 28. Y The inlet pipe 20of the coil'h'as its other end connected by elbow 29 andcoupling 30 to one armof a T-pipe 31 that has another arm connected by a pipe 32 to the top of a boiler not shown. The outlet pipe 21-has its other end connected by a pipe 33 to the bottom of the boiler so that steam can pass downwardly through the coil-to heat the shell as described. Y The heating coil is arranged -so that pipes incline downwardly throughout their length as diagrammatieally illustrated in Fig. 9. As seen therein the pipe 20 throughoutits length is arranged above thcvv horii zontal line a-a, but from. its inlet end o inclines downwardly toward the line where y it is connected to the head 28 which also inclined downwardly as seen .in Fig. Pipe 21 is connected to the lower end of the head 28 and then inclined downwardly until its outlet end c is considerably below the line afa' so that water will flow by Agravity out of the coil. This also is true of thecoil shown in Figs. 12, 13. r

The steam distributor pipe 34,` and also pipe 57 shown in Figs. 12, V13, are secured in this end plate 23, as are the pipes 20. 21, and they extend through-the shell the length of the heating coil and have their endsv closed by the caps 35.

The other` end of pipe 34 is connected to an arm of the T-pipe 31 by pipe connections 36 in which there is a valve 37, which when open permits dry steam lfrom the boiler to discharge into the shell 24 through perforations 38 in the pipe. n l Y The perforations`38 are preferablyonsthe underside of the pipe 34 so that the steam will discharge downwardly and'not upwardrly toward the perforations 39 in the shell.

This arrangement of the perforations 38 is to prevent vmoisture from being discharged through the perforations 39 into ,'.the goods beingn renovated.

Adisk 40 is secured in the shell24radjacent the cap 35, so that an en d portion 41 of the Vshell Vwill not be heated. .This unl heated portion is to enable operators to place the `sleeves of garments and the like on the shell without burning their hands.

A line mesh wire screen 42 is placed over the perforations 39 and has its edges soldered to the shell; and the purpose of this screen is to evenly spread the steam so that it will penetrate all parts of the goods being renovated. t is understood that a cloth 43 is placed over the wire screen 42 when in use '7 as indicated in Figs.' 14 and 15, and the purpose' ofthe cloth ,is to protect the garments or material from injurious contact with the apparatus.

If desired the apparatus shown in Figs.

shown in Figs. 5 and '6; and it is connected to a handle` 45 by a stem 46 that extends through a stuiiing box 47 on the disk 40.

The. handle 45 can be turned to rotate the bafliewmember 44A on its longitudinal axis from its normal position ,shown-in 7F ig. 6 to thatshown in Figy to thereby cover all the perforations 39 except those expos-ed through the elongated slot 48 "in the 1baille member; so that a seam, hem or vfolded portion of a garment can 'be arranged over the uncoveredjperforations 39 vto receive the full charge of steam.

A Vpointer 49 is secured to the handle 45 andarrangedtopointin the direction of the slot 48 to indicate its `position when thebaffiemember is moved out of normal position.

As previously stated. the fabric ypuller hereinbefore described is especially vadapted for usefin renovating theV sleeves ofgarments and other material of sleeve-'like form. Y

For use in renovating bodies -ofvgarments or large material the apparatus 'is enlarged and the contour slightly changed.

' The shell '124 is supported'in the same way as sliell- 24, except thatthe pipe 34 and an additional pipe 57 are' secured to the-support 16 to aid in supporting the Weight ofthe hea'vier shell124, and a bracket 116 is bolted to the support 16 for bracing it.

The shell 124 comprises an upper half 50 secured; and a canvas 43 is secured over the Wirescreen; but, for the sake of clearness in illustratingl the apparatus, the canvasis omitted from-th'e-dravvings, except in Figs. 14 and 15.

A Wall 54 divides the interior of the shell 124 intochambers 55 and 56; and a steam distributor pipe 57 is provided for supplying the chamber 55 With dry steam independently of the other chamber. That is'the pipe 57 is perforated a part of its length and discharges steam only into the chamber 55;.

While pipe 34 is perforated throughout its length and discharges steam into both chambers. Pipe 34 is controlled by a valve 37 and pipe 57 is controlled by a valve 58; so that when valve 37 is closed and valve 58 open only the chamber 55 Will be available for renovating. The purpose of this arrangement is to provide a means for steaming garments that are trimmed with fur.

As illustrated in Fig.,14 a garment 59 having a fur trimming 60 is arranged on the apparatus so that the fur is not exposed to the steam discharging from the chamber 55; it being understood that valve 34 is closed and valve 58 open so that only chamber 55 is supplied With steam. By this arrangement of the chambers and supply of steam thereto, fur trimmed garments can be renovated Without injury to the fur.

A pipe 61 controlled by a valve 62 is pro-- vided for draining Water from the shells 24 and 124. Chamber 55 is provided With a by-pass 63 to the pipe'61 as shown in Figs. 13 and. 14; anda port 64 adjacent the discharge end of the by-*pass 63 connectsthe by-pass With the chamber 56 by. which means Water is drained from the chambers 55, 56. In operation dry steam passes from the top of a boiler through the heat-ing coil in the apparatus, and back to the bottom of the boiler so as to maintain a temperature in shell 24 or 124 that will prevent condensation of steam therein lvvhen in use.

When the sleeve of a garment is to be renovated itis placed over .the shell24 and valve 37 opened to charge the shell with dryV steam; that then passes through the perforations 39 to be evenly spread by the screen 42 and clothV 43 so thatl the portion of the sleeve over the perforated portion of theshell will be evenly penetrated by the steam. The action of thesteam ont the goods will not only clean -it but Will kcause the nap to stand in normal position and appear to be new.V f The same operationapplies to theshell 124'except thatvit' is provided With means for treating garments that are fur trimmed as previously described.

lVhat We claim-as our invention is:

1. A fabric puifer' including a support; a conical steam shell having a flanged end secured-to said'support and having perforations through a portion thereof; means for supplying dry steam to the interior of said shell; a iine mesh Wire screen having its edges soldered to the shell and arranged over the yperforated `portion thereof to evenly spread the steam discharging from the shell, and means Within said vsteam shell for closing afportion of the perforations through said shell.

2. A fabric puffer including a support; a conical'steain shell having a ilangedend secured to said support and having perforations through a portion thereof; means for supplying dry steam to the interior of said shell; a fine mesh Wire screen having its edges soldered to the shell and arranged over the perforated portion thereof to evenly spread the steam discharging from the shell, and abaille member Within said shell; and a handle adapted to be actuated to rotate said baille member to close part of the perforations through said shell.

3. A fabric puffer including a support; a conical steam shell having a flanged end secured to said support and having perforations throughl a portion thereof; means for supplying dry steam yto the interior of said shell; a fine mesh Wire screen having its edges soldered tothe shell and arranged over the perforated portion thereof to evenly spread the steam discharging from the shell, and a baille member in saidA shell that has an elongated slot therethrough; and means for actuating said baille member to. close all the. perforations in said shell except those ex-v posed through the slot in said baille member.

4. A fabric putter including a support; a conical steam shell having a flanged end secured to said support and having perforations through a portion thereof; means for supplying dry steam to the interior of said shell; a `iine mesh Wire screen having its vedges soldered to the shell and arranged over the perforated portion thereof to evenly spread the steam discharging from the shell,

and a baille member in said shell that has an Y elongated slot therethrough; a handle for actuating said baille member to close all the perforations through said shell except those exposed through the slot 'in saidbaille .mem-

ber;l and a pointer on said handle to indicate the position of the slot when said balle member is moved from its normal position.

5. A fabric puffer including a support; a conical gsteam shell arranged horizontally and having perforations. through an upper portion thereof; an annular flange extending outwardly from the base of said shell that is bolted to said support5'1neans for supplying dry steam to the interior of said shell and discharging it in a direction opposite to the perforations through said shell; means -for evenly'spreading the steam as it is discharged from the shell; and a heating coil traversing said shell that inclines down- Wardly from the inletto the discharge end thereof to prevent an accumulation of condensed steam therein for the purpose specified.

6. A fabric puffer including a support having channels therein; steam pipes secured by U-bolts in the channels of said support; a shell having an end plate through shell peroratedover which `garllflellts-can be Y renovated. l,

' 7. A fabric puller including arsupport, a shell; steam pipes secured .to said support and extended into theshell'to `form a heating coil; a Wall for separating 'thefinterior of saidshell into steam chambers; a .-steamdistrbutor pipe for supplying steam -to both chambers; another steam l,pipe ffor supplying steam to only one of the chambers; valves for opening and closing said distributor pipes; and screen covered. perforations above the steam ychambers over whichr clothing can be renovated. 1 f In Witness whereof, We have hereunto affixed our signatures.

HAROLD L. WATKINS. LA, VERE J. EVELAND. 

